Cyclones Start Season With Wins Over ISU, SDSU

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State softball team started out the 2014 season with a pair of victories Saturday afternoon at the Bergstrom Football Complex. The Cyclones (2-0, 0-0 Big 12) started the day with a come-from-behind victory over Indiana State, 4-3, followed by a 3-0 shutout of South Dakota State.

The Cyclones hit three home runs between the two games, and freshman pitcher Katie Johnson earned the first two wins of her Iowa State career.

Iowa State 4, Indiana State 3Play of the GameDown 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Iowa State found itself in a hole after rallying from an earlier 1-0 deficit to take a lead via a fourth-inning Lexi Slater two-run RBI double.

Sara Davison led off the inning and after working the count, sent a shot over the wall in leftfield. Indiana State played the ball as if it was a live ball, but all three umpires were in agreement and the finger was spun for the first Iowa State home run of the season.

ISU didn’t have to wait long for the second home run of the season as Aly Cappaert took the first pitch after the home run over the wall in deep centerfield to give Iowa State its 4-3 win.

Player of the GameSara Davison. Her sixth-inning game-tying home run capped off a perfect first game from the plate as Davison went 3-of-3, scoring two runs to go with her home run.

Iowa State 3, South Dakota State 0Play of the GameAfter not playing in the first game, Rachel Hartman got the start at catcher in the second game. Coming to the plate in the second inning after Lexi Slater reached on a fielder’s choice, Hartman took a 3-1 pitch from Ashlyn Bender over the centerfield wall to give Iowa State a 2-0 lead.

Hartman celebrated her first at bat, hit and home run as a Cyclone by herself as her teammates stayed in the dugout while the freshman rounded the bases and touched home plate. An earned welcome to college softball for the Californian.

Hartman would go on to bring in the other run via a sacrifice fly.

Player of the GameKatie Johnson. Hard to argue against a freshman catcher who drove in all three runs in a 3-0 game, but the freshman pitcher had a brilliant day.

After pitching a complete game that involved almost 140 pitches in the game against Indiana State, Johnson came back with a strong performance in the second game, earning her second career win and first career shutout by allowing only six hits and one walk while striking out seven.

She left the game in style as she closed out the seventh inning and game against the Jackrabbits by striking out the side. Her final strikeout of the game against SDSU’s Allison Huffman came on exactly her 100th pitch of the game.

On DeckIowa State is back at the Bergstrom tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 9:30 a.m. ISU and SDSU will play at 9:30 a.m. followed by Iowa State and Indiana State at noon.